Q&A with Helio Castroneves

The 28-year-old Brazilian driver, nicknamed Spider-Man for his fence-climbing victory celebrations, is the
two-time defending Indy 500 champ.

SI: What does the moment of impact feel like when you crash?

Castroneves: It depends on how you crash. If you see where you are going to hit, it is a bad feeling. You know where you are going to end up and you just pray that something wrong does not happen. But the worst kind of crash is when you go backward because you don't know at which angle or when you are going to hit. That is just horrible. Neither way is good, to be honest.

SI: You are fluent in English, Portuguese, Spanish. Which language do you use when you are trying to woo your girlfriend?

Castroneves: It depends who I am trying to woo. If she is American, I go for English. But sometimes I make a mistake and speak in Spanish while trying to win over the English-speaking one. But, hey, mistakes happen.

SI: Do you have any pre-race superstitions?

Castroneves: I wouldn't say superstitions, but I tie my shoes a certain way -- first the right, then the left. And I get in the car right foot first. It's just my way.

SI: You changed the spelling of your last name a couple of years ago. Why?

Castroneves: My name is Castro Neves in Brazil, but when I came to the States they would call me Castro or Neves and I don't have any relation with Fidel Castro, especially living here in Miami. So I put a hyphen on my name but people still called me Castro or Neves. I was like, 'What do I need to do to put this thing right?' So when I moved to Marlboro Team Penske I asked them if I could change my name. They said the only problem is that people might call me Castron-ovich and I was like, 'Hey, it sounds Russian but at least they'll say the whole name.'

SI: You started crawling up the chain-link fence three years ago in Detroit after winning your first CART race. What prompted that?

Castroneves: When I crossed the checkered flag for the first time, I was so happy and I wasn't thinking straight. Not that I think all the time straight, anyway. When I climbed the fence, it was a pure expression of emotion and happiness.

SI: Have you seen Spider-Man?

Castroneves: Yes, of course. I loved it. I have a poster from the director in my office with a note: "Thanks for letting us borrow the Spidey name."

SI: You've raced two times at Indianapolis and you've won both times. What's your secret?

Castroneves: Maybe I am smarter than the other guys, huh? It's just been a matter of being at the right time in the right place.

SI: Why does Brazil produce so many supermodels?

Castroneves: It must be the water. The women have fantastic good looks. They have everything in place. Right butt. Right breast. Right everything.

SI: Do you have any interest in trying out another circuit, be it Formula One or NASCAR?

Castroneves: I'm doing IROC, which is fun. If I have an opportunity for Formula One, why not?

SI: You live in an eighth-floor condo overlooking a pool in Miami. How's the view?

Castroneves: You have some girls going topless, so I consider it a fantastic view.

SI: You split time between São Paulo and Miami. Could you ever live in a cold-weather city like Buffalo?

Castroneves: I used to live in Columbus [Ohio] in 1996. The reason I live in Miami is because I lived in Columbus in 1996.

SI: Are you a good driver in street traffic?

Castroneves: Only when I'm not late. But most of the time I am late, and that's bad because then I'm trying to go as fast as I can.

SI: So what's the fastest you've cranked it up while driving with the rest of us?

Castroneves: Well, let's put it this way: I've gone well past the three digits.

--Richard Deitsch

Issue date: May 26, 2003

 

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May 26, 2003 Issue of Sports Illustrated Q&A Archive

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